Part of being a good college baseball recruiter is having a backup plan in place when days like Tuesday happen.

Part of being a good college baseball recruiter is having a backup plan in place when days like Tuesday happen.

There have been times in past drafts when Texas Tech has been hit harder across in terms of numbers. But on Tuesday, the Red Raiders took a big hit at one position when last year's shortstop and the guy recruited to take his place were both chosen in the top 14 rounds of the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Texas Tech junior shortstop Kelby Tomlinson was chosen in the 12th round, No. 387 overall, by the defending world champion San Francisco Giants, and just two rounds later, 2008 champion Philadelphia used the final pick of the 14th round, No. 451 overall, to select Tech signee Trey Ford, an infielder out of South Mountain (Arizona) Community College.

Ford was projected as the early replacement for Tomlinson should Tomlinson, who was considered to be a one-year player with Tech when he signed with the Red Raiders, take the Giants' offer.

Red Raider assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Trent Petrie said late Tuesday afternoon after the Tech staff had conversations with both players that the feeling was both would sign.

"I would be surprised if they didn't," Petrie said. "I'm not going to tell you they're going to sign for sure, but the feeling is they will. Basically, with Kelby we knew there was a good possibility we'd lose one, and probably more than likely we'd lose both shortstops."

With that knowledge in hand, Petrie said Tech has it sights on players who could fill the void, but could not go into detail other than to say those players are not on this past season's roster. NCAA rules prohibit coaches from commenting on players who have not signed a letter of intent.

"We've got some other options, but we've got to work through those options in the

next couple of weeks and certainly pick up a couple of other guys," Petrie said. "We told them to just be patient with us and after the draft we'd have a better idea of what we could do in way of putting together a financial package."

Attempts to reach Tomlinson by phone Tuesday were unsuccessful.

While Petrie feels it is almost a slam-dunk decision for both Tomlinson and Ford, it's not guaranteed.

Last season, the highest-drafted Big 12 player to turn down pro ball and return for his senior season was Texas pitcher Cole Green. Green was drafted in the fourth round by Detroit last season, and on Tuesday was chosen in the ninth round by Cincinnati. The highest-drafted position player in the Big 12 who went back to school was Oklahoma State infielder Davis Duren, who was taken in the 13th round in 2010 by Houston.

Tomlinson is the highest-drafted Tech shortstop since Cameron Blair was chosen in the sixth round of the 2005 draft. Blair was also chosen in the 18th round in 2004 but chose to come back for his senior season, making him Tech's highest-drafted player to return for his senior season. "It was a huge factor that you only get to play college ball once, and of course all kids look for that signing bonus at the same time," said Blair, who retired from baseball in 2009 after spending three seasons in the Pittsburgh organization and two years playing for the independent league Fort Worth Cats. "But I don't think (the money) weights in very big until you get into the real high rounds as opposed to the late to middle rounds.

"He's going to have to look at it from a certain perspective. Does he want to go pro and make it his job, or is he wanting to have more of a team life and the fund and atmosphere and all things that come with being in college? He's going to have to weigh all his options."

The good news for Tech is no other player, current or signee, was drafted the rest of the day. That gives the Red Raiders a good shot at landing signee Shane Broyles, a right-handed pitcher out of Seminole (Okla.) Junior College, while also retaining 2011 closer John Neely, who was 9-1 with a team-leading 2.97 ERA this past season while striking out 56 in 602/3 innings, and first baseman Stephen Hagen, who hit .266 with six home runs and 42 RBIs, both of which ranked second on the team.

Tomlinson, who transferred to Tech before this past season from Seward County (Kan.) Community College, was a second-team All-Big 12 Conference selection in 2011. He hit .307 with one home run and 43 RBIs and committed just nine errors in 298 chances for a .971 fielding percentage. He was also second on the team in stolen bases, with 21 in 29 attempts.

"He's the epitome of a hard-worker and a great teammate and team player," Petrie said of Tomlinson. "I wish him nothing but the best if he's decided to sign."

Ford hit .364 for the South Mountain in 2011, with two home runs and 32 RBIs, and he was 14 of 23 in stolen bases to go with a .455 on-base percentage.

"He's a premium bat," Petrie said. "There are just not a lot of premium bats out there and he's a guy who is physical (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) and is a good runner. He's been drafted a couple of times already and I think he's just run into a deal where he ran out of the ability to say no."

When the 16th round came along, the New York Mets took a chance on Odessa athlete Bradley Marquez, an outstanding running back who is signed to play football for Texas Tech with an agreement to play baseball as well, listed as an outfielder. He is the 492nd overall pick.

Marquez played shortstop and second base for the Bronchos this past season, earning honorable mention All-District 3-5A honors. He is currently enrolled in summer school at Tech and going through workouts with the Red Raider football team.

With the final pick of the day, Philadelphia selected Lubbock Christian University right-handed pitcher Mike Marshall at No. 931 in the 30th round. Marshall was 9-0 with a 4.42 ERA in 2011, striking out 101 in 751/3 innings as the Chaps finished as the national runner-up.